Sunday, March 26, 2006
Ahhh....No Sweat!
A country boy attending his first dance had been coached by his mother to give a compliment to each young lady with whom he danced. Nervously he declared to his first partner, “You sweat less than any other fat girl I know!”
I immediately thought of this remark when I was on the receiving end of a very similar comment. Recently after a group cycling class (see A Tiresome Tale) another cyclist took a look at my glistening face, arms and legs, and my damp (OK, so it was drenched) tank top and said, “Wow, you sweat a lot.” I thanked him sarcastically for the compliment, to which he responded, “Oh, it was!”
Hmm. This was not even a backhanded compliment, because it did not contain a compliment at all, as much as my “friend” D.B. protested it did. Here are my suggestions as to what he could have said that would have at least been backhanded compliments:
Complimentary: “Nice…I can tell by your soaking shirt that you really worked it tonight!”
Solicitous: “Hey, make sure you drink plenty of water because it appears you need it.”
Incredulous: “Wow! Not even Big Bubba’s shirt is ever that wet! “
Admiring: “Golly, I wish I sweat as much as you when I worked out!”
Factual: “Your degree of perspiration would indicate an intense level of exertion.”
Although I gave him a hard time, I really was not insulted by D.B.’s remark. I’m not embarrassed that I sweat (though I prefer to call it “glisten”) when I work out. If I continue to perspire due to regular healthy exercise, it will be no sweat to stay in the shape in which I want to be in the long run.
I immediately thought of this remark when I was on the receiving end of a very similar comment. Recently after a group cycling class (see A Tiresome Tale) another cyclist took a look at my glistening face, arms and legs, and my damp (OK, so it was drenched) tank top and said, “Wow, you sweat a lot.” I thanked him sarcastically for the compliment, to which he responded, “Oh, it was!”
Hmm. This was not even a backhanded compliment, because it did not contain a compliment at all, as much as my “friend” D.B. protested it did. Here are my suggestions as to what he could have said that would have at least been backhanded compliments:
Complimentary: “Nice…I can tell by your soaking shirt that you really worked it tonight!”
Solicitous: “Hey, make sure you drink plenty of water because it appears you need it.”
Incredulous: “Wow! Not even Big Bubba’s shirt is ever that wet! “
Admiring: “Golly, I wish I sweat as much as you when I worked out!”
Factual: “Your degree of perspiration would indicate an intense level of exertion.”
Although I gave him a hard time, I really was not insulted by D.B.’s remark. I’m not embarrassed that I sweat (though I prefer to call it “glisten”) when I work out. If I continue to perspire due to regular healthy exercise, it will be no sweat to stay in the shape in which I want to be in the long run.
Comments:
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Ahh, the glow of womanhood working out. I don't know why you didn't consider his remark a compliment.
As a left-handed person, I am just glad that you chose to use the term "backhanded compliment" instead of "left-handed compliment." I wouldn't worry about D.B.'s comment too much. Such comments are usually born out of jealousy, insecurity, or both.
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